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FHEQ level

This course is set at Level 6 in the national Framework for Higher Education Qualifications.

Course Aims

To produce a well-rounded professional geographer, i.e. someone who has:
1. The ability to describe and analyse, both spatially and temporally, the systems of the Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, cryosphere and lithosphere and the interactions between them;
2. A developed awareness of the complexity of the Earth's surface as a context for environmental management;
3. The training and experience (e.g. field work, lab-based study, GIS and remote sensing) needed to achieve the above;
4. The preparation for employment in a wide range of contexts or for further study and a career where geographical skills and understandings will be applied;
5. The ability to engage life-long learning, study and enquiry and appreciate the value of education for society and the environment.

Course learning outcomes

1. Understand the environments and landscapes formed by biophysical processes operating within the geo-ecosphere, and how human actions have modified them.

2. Describe and evaluate the pattern and dynamic nature of spatial variation at the surface of the Earth and throughout the global climate system.

3. Conceptualise patterns, processes, interactions and change in the biophysical world as systems at a range of spatial scales, and incorporate into a systems framework natural environmental impacts on human activity, human impacts on biophysical systems and the management of wild environments and landscapes.

4. Understand how environmental change operating on a range of timescales (past, present, future) affects the biophysical and human world.

5. Describe and explain the interactions between biophysical and human processes, particularly in terms of risks and natural hazards.

6. Apply geographical concepts, techniques and expertise to problem solving, environmental monitoring and modelling, sustainability and conservation of the natural environment.

7. Interpret qualitative and quantitative geographical and environmental data, demonstrating numeracy, basic statistical skills, IT skills (e.g. spreadsheets, databases; word processing, email and www), and an ability to abstract and synthesise material from different sources.

8. Demonstrate a good knowledge of how maps are produced and used (cartographic skills).

9. Integrate the skills of the cartographer with those of the computer scientist, specifically to relate spatially-referenced data with place-attribute data through GIS (geographical information systems), remote sensing and related methods.

10. Demonstrate field and laboratory investigation skills in both physical and environmental geography (e.g. collection of primary data from field and laboratory exercises, statistical analyses, modelling).

11. Reason clearly, critically and logically, and analyse problems and provide solutions for them.

12. Evaluate concepts and theories and test hypotheses, judging evidence for and against particular ways of understanding an issue.

13. Prepare and make verbal presentations (with visual aids and working in a group, where appropriate).

14. Demonstrate self-management (e.g. working to deadlines, self-learning), independent thinking and critical reflection, individual research and scientific report-writing skills (e.g. geography dissertation).

Full-time course composition